Pre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines

ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to the automotive industry in general and specifically to the industry that manufactures internal combustion engines. It has to do with a new apparatus which, when added to internal combustion engines, pre-lubricates the movable parts of the engine before the normal system does. The advantages of the present invention in relation to those of the state of the art consist of the fact that its operation does not alter the normal lubrication process and assures pre-lubrication. It may be installed in any engine which requires pre-lubrication before starting up. With modifications in size and mechanical characteristics in one or two parts, it may be adapted to the conditions and characteristics of distinct engines and does not require an additional pump means in order to function. Structurally the system is characterized by consisting of a tank with a deformable means inside it which deforms when the lubricant flows in and which stores potential energy which is freed and propels the lubricant from the deposit to the parts of the engine to be lubricated when a remote control valve is energized and opens.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to the automotive industry in generaland specifically to the industry that manufactures internal combustionengines. It is related to a new mechanism which when added to aninternal combustion engine pre-lubricates the moving parts of the enginebefore the normal system would perform that function.

HISTORY OF THE INVENTION

After performing a series of serious studies and experiments, it can beproven that the biggest wear on internal combustion engines is producedat the time these engines are started up, before the system of normallubrication, driven by the internal combustion engine itself, sends oilto the moving parts of the engine.

When the engine has not been used for at least three hours, all of thelubricating oil has flowed from the moving parts and is concentrated inthe crankcase. If the vehicle is started up again after this period oftime, for a small, but important time, the moving parts are going toscrape against other moving and non-moving parts, without necessarylubrication.

This contact upon starting up the vehicle is when the most wear takesplace on the motor, shortening the life of the motor to less than itshould be.

In very large internal combustion engines there are complete systemswhich have means that send oil, independent of the motor, and which arein charge of lubricating not only on starting up, but also during theentire period the motor is going.

In the case of internal combustion engines in relatively small vehicles,there is not enough space or the conditions necessary for carrying outlubrication, even before the engine is started up.

Large engines as well as steam and gas turbines have independentlubrication systems, since due to their high cost they should belubricated at all times even when the equipment is not producing energy.The same applies to gas turbines which should be kept lubricated evenwhen the drive shaft is spinning at a low speed before it comes to acomplete halt. It is important to point out that it is not necessarilythe same as the subject developed and presented in the presentdescription, since the development which we will present does not needany external source of energy in order to assure pre-lubrication of theequipment in which it is installed.

The fundamentals of the usefulness of this device stem from the factthat generally motors which require lubrication start up without properlubrication, this being especially critical when said equipment is newor has been out of use for a prolonged period, which would mean that thelubricant has drained into the deposit designed for this purpose, thecrankcase.

This condition would cause materials which have direct friction betweenthem to wear excessively between the moving parts. This wear would benotably reduced is we could insure initial pre-lubrication before theequipment is set in motion.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to make a devicepossible, without altering in any way the normal operation oflubrication of engines in which it is installed, which assures that saidengine is always lubricated when it starts up.

Another objective is to give it features which make it installable inany kind of machinery which requires pre-lubrication before starting up.

Still another objective of the present invention is to achieve a devicethat with modifications in dimensions and mechanical characteristics ofone or two parts can be adapted to conditions and characteristics ofdifferent engines.

Still another objective of the present invention is to make a devicewhich does not need any additional pump for its functioning.

All of the preceding objectives and advantages will become apparentthrough the description of the invention, accompanied by the drawingswhich form an integral part of the description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Basically, the present invention consists of a tank permanentlyconnected to one of the tubes, which in the original design of theautomotive vehicle, takes the oil from the oil pump to the parts of theengine which will be lubricated. The parts which will be lubricated arethe camshaft, the system of the connecting rods to the crankshaft andthe cylinders in the combustion chamber.

Inside this tank is a means for storing potential energy due to theeffect of the lubricant entering it and taking up a volume which deformssaid means. The entrance into the tank, besides having a check valvewhich prevents the oil from returning, has a means to control the amountof oil which will be allowed to pass into the tank. This control isnecessary in order to not substantially alter the normal flow of oilthrough normal tubes.

The outlet is located on one side of the tank, connected by a tube whichconsists of a valve remotely activated by some means which sends asignal designating the moment when the valve should open so thelubricant, driven by means of the deformation in the interior of thetank, can circulate towards the points to be lubricated.

The inlet tube connected to one side of the inlet of the tank by a checkvalve and the means to control the amount of oil which should be letthrough is connected to the circuit of the tube which normally sends theoil from the oil pump to the parts that need lubricating.

Thus, the oil pump fills the tank, forcing the lubricant into the tankand deforming the energy storage means, causing the pressure to increasein the tank, which is freed when the remotely controlled valve isactivated and allows the outflow of the lubricant to the parts that needpre-lubricating.

Energizing of this valve takes place before the engine is started up.One of the ways of doing this is for it to take place when the key isplaced in the ignition. However, it could also take place when the doorsof the vehicle where the motor is are opened for boarding the vehicle,or there could be a button which could be pressed when the engine isgoing to start up.

In the phase when the tank is filled, the lubricant would stop flowingin when said tank is full, and since it is hydraulically connected in acircuit, there would not be any danger of overloading the pump.

In one of the modalities of the present invention, this consists of anassembly whose basic structure consists of a cylindrical tank with apiston and pressure spring, placed on the opposite face of the pistonfrom the face which faces the lubricant inlet. The other end of thespring rests on the inside face of the rear cover of the cylinder.

Said cylindrical tank, on its front end, consists of a top with acentral opening with capillary diameter, connected to a tube of the sameinternal diameter which is connected in a circuit with a tube whichtakes the lubricating oil from the oil pump towards the parts of theengine which are to be lubricated.

Also, in the body of the cylinder, placed laterally, there is the outletfor oil connected to a tube with a solenoid valve with permits theoutflow of the lubricant. Due to the design of this assembly, thesolenoid valve is normally closed.

Following is a description of the figures, presented as illustrative,but not limiting, as an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the lubrication system for the engine with theadditive which is the subject of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the lubricating system in detail, with the regulating valveand the tank which are the subject of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the housing in the modality in which thestorage means of potential energy is a pressure spring and theregulatory means for the volumetric flow at the opening is a capillarytube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device in question could be installed in any equipment whichrequires pre-lubrication and in which, due to its design, reallubrication takes place only when the equipment provides the conditionsfor flow and pressure which assure said lubrication, which does notoccur in the proposed development as is indicated below.

The device can have any outward appearance that is needed although dueto questions of space a cylindrical shape inside the piston isconvenient. The design may be with square, rectangular or any othergeometric shape in transversal areas, so that it can be practicallyincorporated into any engine where pre-lubrication is desirable (inreality this is the main advantage since it avoids wear on the equipmentwhich is produced on starting up said equipment without lubricationsince most lubricating systems kick in once the engine is started up andthe oil pump can provide a flow of lubricant).

The same symbols are used in all of the illustrations to designate thesame parts of the assembly which is the subject of the presentinvention.

Generally lubrication pumps have a pressure regulating valve which sendsany excess of lubricant back to the crankcase of the motor in order toavoid over-pressurizing the lubrication system. The mechanism which wepresent in this application would be connected to the outlet tube asnear as possible to this regulating valve so that pressure generated byit will go on to the inlet tube (1) which is a capillary tube 5% thearea of the outlet tube of the lubricating pump, passing through aunidirectional valve (2) generating pressure on the piston (4) which hasa sealing ring (5). Said piston compresses the pressure spring (6) whichwill compress until the stop of the piston touches the rear wall of thesystem, the lubricant will be stored under pressure since theunidirectional valve (2) prevents it from returning to the main line.

In one of the modalities of the present invention, on the functionalside, the solenoid valve (7) is energized by a manual starting mechanismupon preparing the engine for start up, thus allowing the dischargethrough the tube similar to the outlet tube of the lubrication pump at apoint near the outlet of said pump, with which the lubricant which hasbeen kept under pressure will be injected under pressure to thelubrication system of the engine in question which will assurepre-lubrication, before the engine is set in motion, so that once saidengine is set in motion we will have assured previous lubrication whichwill avoid wear produced during start ups or beginnings of operation ofthese machines since they will be operating with previous lubrication.

After a period of 3 or 4 seconds the solenoid valve (7) deenergizes andthe system is ready to begin recharging for the next cycle. Aunidirectional valve (10) installed after the solenoid valve (7) willnot permit the lubricant to return through the outlet tube (8) and itwill only charge through the capillary tube (1).}

In one of the modalities of the present invention in so far asfunctioning is concerned, once the key or starting up mechanism isplaced in the ignition switch, the solenoid valve will be activated andwill allow the discharge of pressure which has been stored up from thisdevice by means of the piston and pressure spring. At this moment, theresistance of the flow of lubricant through a tube of similar dimensionas the tube of the lubricating system at a point near the outlet of thelubrication pump is less since the equipment is not in motion. Thisassures complete pre-lubrication of said engine before it is put inmotion. Returning of the lubricant to the crankcase is prevented bynon-return valves which are generally placed in the pump in the suctiontube and since the lubricant is an incompressible liquid thispossibility is eliminated. If this were not so, it is recommended thatsaid valve be installed. Where the installation of non-return valve isindispensible is in the outlet of this mechanism in order to insure thatthrough the tube which should only be for the output of the lubricant nolubricant returns when the engine is in operation. This valve incombination with the solenoid will avoid such return.

Once the equipment is put into movement, the engine will be lubricatedthrough the normal lubricating system; the solenoid deenergizes and themechanism begins its slow, gradual charging of the pressure until, in aperiod of 5 or 10 minutes, it is completely charged and ready for a newcycle of starting up.

There will be a drain (11) installed at the bottom of the sleeve (9) ofthe system with a return to the crankcase to expel air and small amountsof lubricant which may circulate through the sealing ring or whichremain on the walls of the system sleeve, since, if they are notdrained, they would make recharging the mechanism difficult orimpossible.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the lubricating system of the engine with theadditive which is the subject of the present invention. This diagram isquite schematically clear, showing, for example, the camshaft andcrankshaft and the connecting rods. The lubricant drains out into thecrankcase and is ready to repeat the cycle. The oil pump 12 takes theoil from the bottom of the crankcase and drives it through the oilfilter 13 on its way to the camshaft 14, the connecting rods 15 and thepistons in the cylinder (not shown).

A shunt is taken from the outlet of filter 13, as close to theregulating valve (not shown) as possible, to be connected to theentrance of tank 19, in this modality, through a capillary or reduceddiameter tube 1. The outlet of the deposit, by means of a solenoid valve7 and a unidirectional valve 10, is connected to the tube which takesthe lubricant to the parts which are to be lubricated.

In order to prevent the accumulation of the lubricant which may draininto to bottom of the tank, the tank has a drain 11 whose positionallows the oil to pass through it and into the crankcase.

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of the lubricating system with theregulating valve and the tank which is the subject of the presentinvention.

The regulating valve consists of a spring which, depending on thepressure of the lubricant, either contracts or relaxes, allowing for ashunt of lubricant to enter through inlet 22 and normally exit throughaccess 25. When there is too much pressure, the shunt opens and thelubricant returns to the crankcase through outlet 21. The other elementswhich are illustrated have already been indicated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the housing in the modality in which thestorage means for storing potential energy is a pressure spring 6 and ameans for regulating the volumetric input in the form of a capillarytube 1.

Tank 9 consists of an outlet 11 to drain the lubricant which has managedto pass through the interstices between piston 4 and the wall of tank 9.

In the top 3 of the tank, on the outer surface, in the center of thecircular face, is tube 1 which has a unidirectional valve 2. This tophas internal threads to affix the top to the lubricant tank.

A piston 4 activated by a spring 6 is located on the inside of the tankso that the lubricant which enters through tube 1, pushes piston 4against spring 6. As the lubricant enters the tank, the spring iscompressed until it can be compressed no more or until the pressure onthe inside of the tank is equal to the pressure with which the lubricantis propelled by the pump, the lubricant will stop flowing, but thanks tothe unidirectional valve 2, the lubricant cannot return.

Upon activating solenoid valve 7, prior to starting up the motor, thespring propels the piston and the latter the lubricant, sending it tothe parts of the engine which are to be pre-lubricated. When the tank isemptied or when the engine is started up the solenoid valve closes, thusde-energizing it and repeating the cycle.

The idea of the invention can be understood by way of this modality, butit is obvious that there may be other modalities with respect to thespring, which could function under tension instead of pressure: insteadof a spring, a diaphragm could be used, among other options.

Also, instead of a capillary tube used to control the volumetric flow ofthe lubricant, a control valve could be provided.

The basics of the invention consist of a tank which may be filled by theoil pump of the normal lubricating system itself, without significantlyaltering the function for which this system was designed and later byway of the mechanism provided in the tank, the latter impulses thelubricant to the parts to be lubricated before the engine is started up.

The configuration of the tank may also vary; it being possible for thetank to be in the form of a prism, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon,etc.

While certain novel features of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be understood that various omissions,substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A pre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines, comprising:a tank with a deformable means inside it to accumulate potential energyso that when lubricant flows into the tank, the deformable means deformsand stores the potential energy, where the tank has a front face and arear face, an inlet into the tank near the front face, with a meanswhich allows for the entrance with a volumetric flow which does notjeopardize the normal functioning of the standard lubrication system andan outlet near the front face, which allows for, on a given signal,propelling the lubricant stored in the tank, due to the effect of therecovery of the deformable element to its original shape, where theinlet is hydraulically connected in shunt, through the means whichcontrols the volumetric flow and a unidirectional valve, to a tube whichtakes the lubricant from a pump to the parts of the engine to belubricated and the outlet of the tank is hydraulically connected by wayof a remote controlled valve and a unidirectional valve, to the sametube which is connected to the inlet of the tank, but upstream.
 2. Thepre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines of claim 1,characterized by said deformable means being chosen from the elements ofthe set made up of a pressure spring, a tension spring and a diaphragm.3. The pre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines of claim2, characterized by the fact that when the deformable means is a tensionof pressure spring, said spring consists of a piston so that theentrance of oil can perform the deforming action on said spring.
 4. Thepre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines of claim 2,characterized by the fact that when the deformable means is a pressurespring, said piston is placed between the inlet for the lubricant andthe front part of the spring.
 5. The pre-lubrication system for internalcombustion engines of claim 2, characterized by the fact that when thedeformable means is a tension spring, the piston is placed between thefront top and the rear part of the spring.
 6. The pre-lubrication systemfor internal combustion engines of claim 1, characterized by the factthat said remote control valve consists of a solenoid valve activatedwhen the key is placed in the ignition, or by another mechanismcontrolled directly or indirectly from the dashboard.
 7. Thepre-lubrication system for internal combustion engines of claim 1,characterized by the fact that said means of control of the volumetricflow is chosen from the elements which make up the set of capillary tubeand volumetric valves.
 8. The pre-lubrication system for internalcombustion engines of claim 1, characterized by the fact that said tankconsists of a bleeding outlet for draining the oil that may have drainedinto the bottom of said tank.